First Open Space facilitation

[Suzanne Daigle]

Lesley, Woke up this morning to your email. What a gift!.  I will save it,
re-read and share it often.  The simplicity and clarity of your descriptions
evoked such gratitude for you, Lesley, in sharing this with us and also for
this very special community which has become a safe haven for me. Thank you
so very much.

The journey to becoming a WAVE RIDER is all about bolstering our courage
together, making ourselves vulnerable by sharing as you did so we can all
live this dream of what can be, explore our questions and describe our
feelings. I was thinking of you, who listened, who meditated and who walked
the circle before and during (very slowly...) this brave female there with
38 (hard-nosed?) guys  probably feeling somewhat alone who trusted the
process and her intuition. Thanks to you, I have another angel on my
shoulder when I walk that circle in the future...in flat shoes. I will never
be alone. The results you described were predictable as they have been since
the beginning of time. I also appreciated your reference to grief work which
can never be described that becomes the elusive and intimate side of a
trusting relationship between you and the client. Again a heartfelt thank
you, Suzanne


On Sun, Jul 19, 2009 at 12:17 AM, Lesley Symons <lesley at lesleysymons.com>wrote:

> I have sat struggling with why I have been resistant to posting the
> experience of my first facilitation of an OS event. Still not sure.... I
> worked with a colleague, who's client this is, Anyway....the story
> I am based in Sydney Australia and facilitated this workshop in Amsterdam,
> Holland. The client was a corporate company with offices in Holland,
> Australia, USA and UK. The meeting was a strategic meeting with
> representatives from all offices. Approx. 40 people in total.
> I suggested to my colleague that an Open Space event would be just right
> for the organisation as there were:- top down control management,(based in
> Holland),there were talented people throughout the organisation who were
> not being heard, there was a powerful question to be resolved, the company
> could not keep operating from the current management style and remain
> successful, there was growing 'dissent among the ranks'.
> The event was extremely successful. Both this organisation and my
> colleague were enormously brave to be able to 'let go' and go with this
> type of event. It has shifted their style and enabled the company to be
> much more 'self-organising' and less top down in operation.
>
> I held the space over two days. I had training just before with Brendan
> McKeague here in Australia. He also was of immense help to me.
>
> I found the event Scary, frightening, exhilarating-and very powerful. I
> was nervous as I had suggested to do this type of event yet had never done
> one!!
> Also I was a female in a room with 38 corporate males with most wondering
> nervously what was going on.........
>
> So my musings on doing this event are-or rather-Notes to self for next time
>
> wear comfortable, flat shoes for walking the circle(helps with grounding)
> Walk very slowly-slower than you think possible
> Own the space before entering (practise or walk the circle before)
> Modulate voice tone if you can
> News/Opening/Closing-impress that these are important times to meet
> Action Planning: - Be Prepared...and then let go
> Spend much time before and after with client-Before- to get the question
> right- After- to help assist with the fall-out (grief work) when the
> system changes
> Do not under-estimate who can embrace this
> Remain true to self and the PROCESS (this is your rock)
> When you really feel pulled-in to engage-DON'T- this is the magic moment
> A lot happens over night
> You need two facilitators-one to hold the space and the other to organise
> and liaise with hotel
> Hotels don't get it- needs to be really briefed well, can be quite
> frustrating
>
> Be present............ Keep Meditating and go inward ..........
>
> So that is all from me...at last. The client has been very happy with the
> event. It has changed operating styles of individuals, groups and the
> organisation as a whole, it has inspired them to 'slow down' and consider
> more.
> I have given the CEO Harrisons book on Open Space and handed him the
> responsibility going forward for 'keeping the space open'.
>
> I wish to thank my colleague who had the 'faith to trust’ and run with
> this type of meeting.
>
> Over and out
>
> Lesley Symons
>
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